Curriculum
Program Requirements
The MA in Theology requires 33 credit hours and comprehensive examinations. Students may accumulate the requisite 33 credit hours on either of two plans:
- Plan A - 33 credit hours of course work followed by comprehensive examinations
- Plan B - 27 credit hours of course work followed by comprehensive examinations; then 6 credit hours for completion of a thesis
Distribution of Courses
Three required core courses provide the basic tools for historical, interpretive, and systematic inquiry.
CORE (9 credit hours total):
THL 700, Seminar in Biblical Studies
THL 730, Seminar in Systematic Theology
THL 755, Seminar in Moral Theology
In addition to the core, students take one course in each of the three areas of the theological study:
Area-Specific (9 credit hours total):
Area A: Biblical Studies (BS)
Area B: Systemic and Historical Studies (SHS)
Area C: Christian Life Studies (CLS)
The remainder of a student's program consists of electives (15 credit hours on Plan A; 9 credit hours on Plan B, followed by 6 credit hours for the thesis).
After completion of the required core and area-specifc courses, a student may submit an application for permission to pursue the thesis option (Plan B). Once the application has been approved, the student proceeds to the development of a thesis proposal.